Picture frame



Sept. 11, 1962 c. G. ALLEN 3,053,001

PICTURE FRAME Filed Feb. 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CECIL G. ALLE N @244, 9%yZW fiTTOR/VEYS Sept. 11, 1962 c. G. ALLEN 3,053,001

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I I I INVENTOR. CECIL G. ALLEN United btates Patent Q 3,053,001 PICTURE FRAME Cecil G. Allen, R0. Box 1580, Brownsville, Tex. Filed Feb. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 9,026 7 Claims. (Cl. 40154) This invention relates to means for mounting and displaying pictures or the like, and the method of making same.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide novel means for mounting pictures or the like upon a vertical surface, such as a wall, which means is adapted to adjustably receive and hold pictures of greatly varying thickness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel picture frame having associated therewith unique clip means for engaging and holding a picture within the frame.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide picture frame means for mounting and displaying pictures of varying thickness, wherein said frame means is of primarily single-piece construction having no joint lines marring the forward face thereof, and is extremely light-weight.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in combination with a novel picture frame of lightweight construction, a unique clip means for engaging and holding a picture within said frame and providing means for the attachment thereto of picture wire or string for hanging the frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel picture frame means of extremely economical construction, and ideally adapted to fabrication by mass production techniques.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method for economically manufacturing picture frames, which method is ideally suited to the application of high volume mass production.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide unique clip means for use in conjunction with a picture frame, which clip means is of extremely simple construction and is adapted to be urged towards a picture retaining position by the tension in the picture wire connected thereto, when said picture and frame are hanging by means of said wire.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the present specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a single embodiment of my invention by way of example, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the front of a picture frame embodying the principles of the present invention, as it would appear in actual use with a picture disposed therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the picture frame and picture shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of the picture frame shown in FIGURE 1 and illustrating the corner construction thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the picture frame is formed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the parts which forms a part of the picture frame;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a press, showing the dies and removable liners associated therewith for forming the blank shown in FIG- URE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View URE 5.

Patented Sept. 11, 1962 of a portion of a retaining clip forming a part of the present invention.

The picture frame assembly herein illustrated and described constitutes one practical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, and comprises in general four structurally interrelated parts. The frame itself is formed from a single piece of cardboard, or similar or equivalent material, e.g. plastic, by means of pressing, cutting, and folding operations, as will be more fully described hereinafter. To re-enforce the one-piece frame there is provided therein a cardboard or plastic tube member which is secured thereto to serve as a backbone. Attached to the rear face of the frame is a one-piece hinge member which is provided with inwardly directed peripheral flaps having aflixed thereon clip members for engaging and holding a picture, or the like, within the frame assembly for display.

The present invention contemplates holding and displaying pictures that are not faced with glass, and is adapted to hold pictures of varying thickness, as for example those ranging in size from a picture on a canvas board, which is of the order of 4 inch thickness, to a picture on a canvas stretcher frame, which is of the order of inch thickness. The frame is of light-weight and very inexpensive construction, and has a front face unmarred by any joint lines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a picture frame assembly generally designated at 10 having one-piece frame 1 2, and supporting for display a picture 14. As can be seen, the frame 12 is provided with various types of embossments or has-relief designs, such as straight lines and scrolls, these being designated at 16. The frame 12 is of a generally triangular cross-sectional shape, as is shown in FIGURE 3, and may be made from cardboard or any suitable or equivalent plastic material. It is contemplated that the material used be faced with some attractive material, such as gold, bronze, or silver film, there being commercially available cardboards having such film material already provided on one surface thereof. If such a film mate-rial is not available, it is a simple expedient to paste to the cardboard any one of the desired metallic films o-r foils. The frame can even be painted in some instances.

In manufacturing the frame 12, the first step in the process is to press a sheet of the desired cardboard or plastic material between two dies, applying a force of perhaps 5,000 p.s.i. In FIGURE 7 there is somewhat diagrammatically illustrated a portion of a conventional press having a vertically reciprocating plunger 18 which rigidly supports an upper die 20. Secured to the lower surface of upper die 20 in a conventional manner, as by screws or the like, is upper liner 22 having formed in the lower surface thereof the shape into which it is desired to press the frame material. Corresponding to upper liner 22 is a lower liner 24, secured to a lower die 26, which is in turn rigidly supported by the stationary frame of the machine, as will be apparent. The liners 22 and 24 are of the cross-sectional shape shown, and serve to form or mold the frame material into a flat blank having a rectangular concave-convex raised portion of generally triangular cross-section defining the final shape or outline of the frame. The upper liner 22 may also be provided with cutting elements such as 28 and 30 for cutting the inner and outer peripheries 29 and 31, respectively, of the frame blank, shown in plan in FIG- In addition, the lower liner 24 may be provided with projections 32 and 34 for forming in the frame blank score lines, to facilitate the folding of the blank at the correct positions.

The single-piece blank, designated 12', from which frame 12 is to be formed is clearly shown in FIGURE 5- 3 As can be seen, it is of generally rectangular shape having a rectangular opening 33 in the center thereof defined by inner periphery 29, a rectangular concavo-convex portion 35, and outwardly directed peripheral flaps defined by score lines 36 and 38. The corners of the blank 12 are cut as is illustrated. The portion of the press and associated molding and cutting liners 22 and 24, shown in FIGURE 7, is taken along the line equivalent to XX of FIGURE 5. However, it will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art the shape in which the remainder of each of the liners will be formed. The score lines 36 and 38 are formed by portions 32 and 34, respectively, of liner 24. The portions of the blank disposed between score lines 36 and 38 constitute bottom flaps 39 and beyond score lines 3 8 are closure flaps 41.

Although in the apparatus illustrated there are provided cutters on the molding liners, this is not essential, and if desired the blank .12 may be cut into rectangular shape in a separate operation. For example, the molding operation might be performed on a solid sheet of material to form the raised concave-convex rectangular outline of the frame, and then subsequently, by means of shears or other cutting apparatus, the blank 12 may be cut to its desired shape. As can be seen, the press is provided with removable liners so that it is a relatively simple expedient to quickly change liners and thereby obtain varying has-relief designs on the frame, as well as diiferent size and shape frames, with a minimum expense involved.

After the molded, scored and cut frame blank 12' is removed from the molding liners there is placed within the concave back portion 40 of the front face, a cardboard tube member 42 that has been bent into a rectangular shape corresponding in size to the outline of the concave portion 40. Tube member 42 is clearly shown in FIGURE 6 and may be formed by rolling and gluing a fiat sheet of paper or other suitable material, such as plastic, into a long tube and then bending the tube in four places to form the rectangular shape shown. It is not important that the contiguous free ends of the tube member 42 be secured to each other. This tube member 42 serves as a backbone for the ultimate frame assembly, and is placed within the concave portion 40 so that it contacts it at at least two points. Thus, as can be seen in FIGURE 3, the tube 42 contacts the inner face of concave portion 40 at two points, 44 and 46. The tube member 42 is rigidly secured to the frame 12 by means of glue applied along the tube at points 44 and 46.

With the tube member 42' rigidly secured in place within concave portion 4 of the frame blank the bottom flap 39 is then folded as shown in FIGURE 3 about score line 36 to close the concave portion, as is shown. The closure flap 41 is then folded about score line 38 and inserted into the concave portion 40 to complete the inclosure of tube member 42. To securely hold flaps 39 and 41 in place, glue is applied between flap 39 and the tube 42 at 48, and similarly flap 41 is glued to the rear surface of the front portion of the frame as at 50. There is thus provided a frame 12, of one-piece construction, with a generally triangular cross-section, re-enforced by a tube member 42. As can be seen, the inner periphery 29 of the frame 12 is spaced inwardly from the inner edge of the main frame body itself, the inner edge being defined by the junction of flaps 39 and 41, and designated at 52. Furthermore, the rear flap 39 is disposed in a plane which is spaced from the plane of the front face of the frame 12 in which peripheral edge 29 lies. Thus, as can be most clearly seen in FIGURE 3, there is provided a space for receiving picture 14. The inner edge 52 prevents any movement of the picture in a vertical plane, and the rear surface of the inner peripheral portion of the frame 12 prevents movement of the picture 14 in the forward direction, that is, to the left in FIGURE 3.

In order to hold the picture 14 in place, so as to prevent it from falling out of the frame, there is provided holding or hinge flap 54, as can be best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. Hinge flap 54 is of rectangular shape having an outer peripheral edge 56 of substantially the same size as the outer peripheral edge of frame 12, and having an inner peripheral edge 58 which extends inwardly beyond inner edge 52 of the frame itself. Spaced from the inner peripheral edge 54 and parallel thereto is provided score line 6% which serves to define retaining flaps 62 about the inner peripheral edge of binge flap 54. Hinge flap 54 is secured, as by gluing, to the frame 12 adjacent its outer peripheral edge 56 as at 64.

The hinge flap 54 may !be made of the same material as frame 12, or may be simply plain cardboard as it is not essential that it be decorative since it is disposed on the back side of the frame. As will be apparent, since the hinge flap 54 is secured to the frame only adjacent its outer periphery, its inner peripheral edge and flaps 62 may be pivoted towards and away from the rear face of rear flaps 39 of the frame 12. In addition, retaining flaps 62 may be pivoted with respect to the remainder of hinge flap 54 along score lines 60. This hinging or pivoting feature enables the retaining flaps 62 to be displaced away from the remainder of the frame 12 in order to receive pictures of greater thickness. The natural resilience of hinge flap 54 tends to bias it towards the rear flap 39 at all times, as is apparent.

Referring to FIGURE 8, there is shown in detail a portion of a retaining clip 66, which is adapted to be pinched or otherwise secured to retaining flaps 62 for reasons hereinafter described. Clip 66, which may be of any \benda-ble but relatively stiff material, such as sheet metal, is channel-shaped in cross-section, having legs 68 and 70. As can be seen, leg 68 is of greater width than leg 70, and is substantially the same width as retaining flaps 62. As can be seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the retaining clip 66 is pinched upon or otherwise suitably secured to each of the retaining flaps 62. The longer leg 68 of each clip 66 is disposed on the inner surface of each retaining flap 62 and, as shown, is substantially the same width thereof.

Each of the four retaining clips 66 is provided intermediate its ends with a tongue 72, which is adapted to engage the rear surface of a picture held within the frame to thereby hold it in place. FIGURE 8 clearly illustrates the manner in which the tongue 72 is formed integrally with the clip 66. In addition, each of the clips 66 is provided with a raised eyelet 74 having an aperture 76 therethrough, and the portion of leg 70 opposite the eyelet cut away, as at 77. The integral construction of the raised eyelet 74 with respect to the remainder of the retaining clip 66 is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 8 also. When the clips 66 are secured to retaining flaps 62 the eyelets 74 protrude therethrough as can be seen in FIG- URES 2 and 3. Each of the eyelets 74 is disposed at the same level as the eyelet on the opposite side of the frame from it, as shown in FIGURE 2, and is adapted to receive through the aperture 76 therein picture wire, for the purpose of hanging the frame on a wall. A pair of eyelets is provided for each axis of the frame so that the frame may be hung either in the vertical or horizontal direction, FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the frame in a horizontally disposed position.

The eyelets serve a number of useful purposes. First of all they provide means for the attachement of a picture wire for hanging the frame and a picture from a wall. Secondly, they provide stop means which prevents the folding of retaining flaps 62 too far back upon hinge flap '54. Thus, as can be seen in FIGURE 3, if retaining flap 62 is pivoted counterclockwise about score line 60, the eyelet 74 will prevent the pivotal movement thereof from exceeding approximately since at that position it will contact the rear face of hinge flap 54. A third purpose Which the eyelets 74 serve is as additional biasing means to urge the retaining flaps 62 and retaining clips 66 towards the rear surface of the picture 14. This is accomplished by the tension of the picture wire attached thereto when the frame is hanging, which tension tends to pivot the retaining flaps an! clips thereon about score lines 60 towards the back of the picture, or clockwise, as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus the clips 66, and hence tongues 72 are urged against the rear of the picture, to hold it in place, by both the resilient force of the hinge flap 54, and the tension of the picture wire upon eyelets 74.

There has thus been described an extremely economical picture frame and a unique method for making same. To use the frame it is necessary only to bend the retaining flaps 62, about score lines 60, until they are at approximately right angles to the rear face of the frame, as shown in FIGURE 4. This bending of the retaining flaps to open the rear of the frame will, of course, also tend to bend the inner periphery of the hinge flaps 54 away from the rear of the frame. The picture 14, whether it be an ordinary canvas, or a stretcher frame, is then slipped into the frame within the opening defined by inner edge 5-2, to be retained therein from forward movement by the inner surface of the inner periphery of the front face of the frame. Once the picture is in place the retaining fiaps 62 are allowed to spring back against the rear of the picture, to hold it in place. It is the natural inherent resilience of the hinge flaps 54 and retaining flaps 62 which causes them to be biased towards the back of the picture.

As is apparent, the frame of the present invention is capable of receiving pictures of widely varying thickness. In dashed lines in FIGURE 3, there is shown the flaps 54 and 62 in a position for engaging and holding a picture of greater thickness than the one shown in solid lines. In such an application, the tongues 72 may be bent as shown, if desired, to eliminate any projections from the rear of the frame. As was discussed above, there is a second force causing the retaining flaps 62 to be urged against the back of picture 14. This additional force is due to the tension in the picture wire secured to an opposed pair eyelets 74, which tension creates a rotational movement of retaining flaps 62 about score line 60 towards the rear face of the picture.

The present frame is ideally suited to mass production techniques, unlike most conventional frames. The molding of a single piece of sheet material into a frame construction is believed unique in the art, and facilitates the high volume production of a durable and light-weight picture frame of extremely simple construction. By providing the molding pras with removable and interchangeable liners it is thereby possible to achieve great flexibility in tooling, thus minimizing the cost of tooling for different sizes, shapes or designs of frames.

Another unique feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel retaining clip which is responsive to the tension in the wire from which the frame is hanging and the resilience of the material to which it is attached, to urge and retain a picture in place within the frame.

There is thus disclosed in the above description and in the drawings an exemplary embodiment of my invention, however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts, as described, are by way of example only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, and intend that the invention embody all such features and modifications as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for mounting and displaying pictures of varying thickness or the like comprising: frame means having a central opening; picture-retaining means of somewhat stiff sheet material disposed on the rear face of said frame means, said means having a central opening corresponding to said central opening in said frame means and flaps on its inner periphery extending inwardly for overlying retaining engagement with the marginal edge portion of a picture in said frame; retaining clip means secured to the inner edges of said flaps; and tongue means forming a part of said retaining clip means for holding a picture in said frame means.

2. Means for holding pictures or the like in a picture frame, comprising: picture-retaining means of somewhat stiff sheet material having the same shape as the frame and inner marginal edge portions adapted to overlie the marginal edge portions of a picture to hold the latter in the frame; means securing said picture-retaining means to the frame adjacent the outer periphery only; and clip means disposed on said inner edge portions, whereby when a picture is disposed in said frame said clip means is urged against said picture by the resilient force of said picture-retaining means to hold said picture in place.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 including eyelet means forming a part of the clip means for attaching picture wire for hanging the frame, whereby said clip means are further urged against the picture.

4. A frame for displaying a generally rectangular picture or the like comprising: a generally rectangular frame pressed into channel formation in cross-section from onepiece sheet material having a central generally rectangular opening and outer marginal flaps folded inwardly and secured to the other margin of said channel formation to form a generally flat rear face having miters at the corners, the edge of said other margin having a continuous flange defining said opening, extending inwardly of said rear face, and adapted to overlie the front marginal edge portions of a picture; and one-piece framereinforcing picture-retaining means of somewhat stiff material conforming to the shape of said rear face and secured thereto adjacent the outer periphery thereof, the inner edges of said means being provided with flexible flaps extending into overlying relation with the rear face of said flange, whereby the inner edges of said flaps can be flexed rearwardly to permit a picture to be engaged against said flange rear face and then said flaps released into retaining engagement with the marginal edge portions of said picture.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 including framestrengthening cylindrical means of sheet material disposed within the frame and having at least three lines of contact therewith.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the cylindrical means is secured to the frame along the said lines of contact.

7. A frame as defined in claim 4 in which the flange is spaced forwardly of said rear face by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of a picture to be retained in said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,508 Kaufman Apr. 9, 1918 1,470,866 Newhouse Oct. 16, 19 23 1,959,745 Stout May 22, 1934 2,296,596 Brown Sept. 22, 1942 2,744,346 Aurbach-Levy May 8, 1956 2,820,311 Hamlin Jan. 21, 1958 2,882,633 Howell Apr. 21, 1959 2,884,727 Camus May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,490 Germany Sept. 6, 1951 

